Clippers could be involved in proposed Dwight Howard trade

The Clippers already wrested Chris Paul from the Lakers.

Now they might help prevent their Staples Center co-tenants from getting Dwight Howard.

These are certainly interesting times in the Hallway Rivalry.

Multiple reports have stated that the Clippers could be peripherally involved in a four-team trade in which the Brooklyn Nets land Howard, the Orlando Magic All-Star center they have long coveted, to form a Big Three alongside Deron Williams and Joe Johnson.

As part of the proposed deal also involving the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Clippers would send a lottery-protected first-round draft pick to the Magic while receiving Nets shooting guard MarShon Brooks.

Brooks, a 6-foot-5 swingman, averaged 12.6 points and 3.6 rebounds last season as a rookie. He would join a backcourt that already includes Paul, Chauncey Billups, Eric Bledsoe and Jamal Crawford.

According to an ESPN.com report, the Nets would receive Howard, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark in the proposed deal. The Magic would get Brook Lopez in a sign-and-trade, Shelden Williams, Armon Johnson, Luke Walton, Damion James and three first-round picks, including one from the Clippers and two from the Nets. Cleveland would get Kris Humphries in a sign-and-trade, Quentin Richardson, Sundiata Gaines, a first-round pick from the Nets and $3 million in cash.

If such a scenario were to unfold, the Nets would immediately challenge the defending champion Miami Heat for supremacy in the Eastern Conference and the Lakers would go into next season with Andrew Bynum as their starting center alongside Kobe Bryant, newcomer Steve Nash, Pau Gasol and Metta World Peace.

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For the record: An earlier version of this report said in the four-team trade that the Magic would receive Dwight Howard, Jason Richardson, Chris Duhon and Earl Clark in the proposed deal. The Nets would receive those players.